System and method for composting-free disposal of organic wastes

ABSTRACT

A system for composting-free disposal of organic waste and method thereof included a heating apparatus, a pretreatment apparatus, and a decomposition apparatus. The heating apparatus heats the pretreatment apparatus and the decomposition apparatus. The organic waste is separated into a slurry and a surface oil-water mixed liquid by the pretreatment apparatus. Microbial enzymes and raw material are added into the slurry to become a mixture. The mixture is then decomposed and sterilized by the decomposition apparatus to become a composting-free organic fertilizer product. All these procedures can be carried out within 3 to 24 hours. The system and the method thereof provides an efficiently fast, space-saving way to deal with organic waste and achieve environmental protection and sanitation.

This application is a Divisional patent application of application, Ser.No. 10/759,947, filed on 15 Jan. 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,215.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for composting-free disposalof organic wastes and a method thereof, and more particularly, to asystem and technology that recycles organic wastes into acomposting-free organic fertilizer product with high efficiency, lessprocessing space, environmentally safe, and improved hygiene, withoutgenerating odors or propagating diseases.

2. Background of the Invention

Environmental protection is a focal point for every country of the worldespecially in dealing with various types of organic wastes generatedfrom different activities, such as industrial (e.g. from food processingmanufacturers, restaurants, or leather manufacturers), agricultureorganic wastes (e.g. from gardens, farms, or cattle farms), and domestic(e.g. household waste). Thoughtful and fast disposal of organic wastesis a necessity for an area with a high population density, as thenatural resources arc limited.

Conventional methods for disposing of organic waste, such as landfill,incineration, or compost, are associated with various problems, e.g.processing space, building and operating cost, time consumption, or airand water pollution.

Of all the organic wastes, the percentage of household waste is thehighest. Because household waste contains a lot of waste water with oilcontent, when mixed with solid wastes, it generates odors and watercontent that make the garbage difficult to recycle. Meanwhile, the wastewater contains organic matters that propagate bacteria and diseases. Ifthe water content is directly drained without any pretreatment, itpollutes rivers, waterways and ground water. It is well known thathousehold waste is an excellent organic fertilizer source, and hence canhe efficiently reused as it can extend the lifetime of a landfill areaor an incinerator, save money, and reduce social disputes caused bygarbage problems. Use of swill to feed livestock with organic wastecauses sanitation problems. High-speed fermentation involves a highenergy consumption and degree of rottenness. Therefore, developedcountries try to carry out highly efficient composting techniques torecycle the organic waste into organic fertilizer. Although chemicalfertilizer is more efficient than organic fertilizer and greatlyincreases crop yield, but it also reduces the functionality of soil anddestroys the ecological balance. As environmental consciousness hasgiven rise to greater environmental protection, the organic manure andorganic farming are becoming more popular.

FIG. 1 illustrates a method for disposing of household waste. Asillustrated, a household and food waste 90 is guided into a breakingapparatus to be broken into pieces 91, and water 92 is added to separatethem into a residue 93 and an oil and water mixed liquid 94. The residue93 is directly thrown away as 95 or sent to compost and ferment as 96,and the oil and water mixed liquid 94 is directly drained as 97 ordirected to sewage disposal as 98.

According to the aforesaid method, a volume of the household waste canbe reduced to ⅙ to ⅓ volume. However, a landfill area is needed for theresidue. A high speed fermentation apparatus requires 48 to 72 hours todry the residue and more than 15 days to reach a half-rotten form fororganic matter. Subsequently when fertilizing, the residue generates alot of toxins (e.g. methane, ammonia, and carbon monoxide) that pollutethe environment. Also, chemical matters produced from the residue erodethe high speed fermentation apparatus and thereby shortening itslifetime, increasing operating costs. The oil and water mixed liquidcontains a lot of organic matter that propagate bacteria and diseases.If the oil and water mixed liquid is directly drained without anypretreatment, it pollutes the land and water systems.

Accordingly, as discussed above, the conventional method of disposingorganic wastes still has some drawbacks that could be improved. Thepresent technology/invention aims to resolve the drawbacks in the priorart.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The primary objective of the invention is therefore to specify a systemfor composting-free disposal of organic wastes and a method for thesame, which recycles organic waste into a composting-free organicfertilizer product with high efficiency, less processing space, greaterenvironmental protection, and improved sanitation, without generatingodors or propagating diseases.

According to the invention, the objective is achieved by a system forcomposting-free disposal of organic waste, comprising a heatingapparatus, a pretreatment apparatus and a decomposition apparatus. Theorganic waste is guided into the pretreatment apparatus to become aslurry. The decomposition apparatus is placed downstream of thepretreatment apparatus. Microbial enzymes and raw materials are addedinto the slurry to make a mixture. The heating apparatus heats thismixture, and the decomposition apparatus decomposes and sterilizes themixture into a composting-free organic fertilizer product.

The objective is achieved by a method for composting-free disposal oforganic waste, comprising following steps: (a) shattering the organicwaste into a slurry; (b) adding microbial enzymes and raw material intothe slurry to make a mixture; and (c) decomposing and sterilizing themixture into a composting-free organic fertilizer product.

To provide a clear understanding of the invention, the followingdetailed description illustrates embodiments and examples of theinvention. Examples of the more important features of the invention thushave been summarized rather broadly in order that the detaileddescription thereof that follows may be better understood, and in orderthat the contributions to the art may be appreciated. There are, ofcourse, additional features of the invention that will be describedhereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appendedhereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description, whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of a method for disposing of a householdwaste according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system for composting-free disposalof organic waste according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for composting-free disposalof organic waste according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a pretreatment apparatus according tothe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of pretreatment steps according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a system for producing a liquidfertilized composting-free organic fertilizer product according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a method for producing a liquidfertilized composting-free organic fertilizer product according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a system for producing a solidfertilized composting-free organic fertilizer product according to thepresent invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a method for producing a solidfertilized composting-free organic fertilizer product according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

With respect to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the present invention provides asystem for composting-free disposal of organic waste 10 and method forthe same. The system comprises of a heating apparatus 34, a pretreatmentapparatus 30, and a decomposition apparatus 32.

The heating apparatus 34 is a circulatory airtight heating system withkerosene therein or a circulatory airtight heating system with vaportherein. The kerosene or the vapor is heated by using a boiler orelectric power.

The organic waste 10 is guided into the pretreatment apparatus 30 tobecome a slurry 11.

The decomposition apparatus 32 is located downstream from thepretreatment apparatus 30. Microbial enzymes and raw material are addedinto the slurry 11 to make a mixture 13. The heating apparatus 34 heatsthe mixture 13. The decomposition apparatus 32 decomposes and sterilizesthe mixture 13 to make a composting-free organic fertilizer product 25.

The system further includes an electrical circuit control unit (notshown). The heating apparatus 34, the pretreatment apparatus 30, and thedecomposition apparatus 32 are electrically connected to the electricalcircuit control unit, which is set up to control working requirements,such as temperature, time or velocity.

The method comprises:

-   -   -   (a) shattering 60 of the organic waste 10 to make a slurry            11;        -   (b) addition of microbial enzymes and raw material 12 into            the slurry 11 to make a mixture 13; and        -   (c) decomposing 61 and sterilizing 62 of the mixture 13 to            make a composting-free organic fertilizer product 25.

Reference is made to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, which respectively are theschematic diagram of a pretreatment apparatus 30 and a schematicflowchart of pretreatment steps thereof according to the presentinvention. The pretreatment apparatus 30 includes a storage tank 33, ashattering device 31 and a oil-water separation device 35. The storagetank 33 is located downstream from the shattering device 31, and theoil-water separation device 35 is located downstream from the storagetank 33. The organic waste 10 is guided into the shattering device 31.The shattering device 31 shatters the organic waste 10 to make anoil-slurry 26 that is further guided into the storage tank 33. Theheating apparatus 34 carries kerosene or vapor through a check valve, asafety valve and a pressure gauge to the inner wall of the storage tank33 of the pretreatment apparatus 30 to heat the oil-slurry 26 in thestorage tank 33 and to separate the oil-slurry 26 into a slurry 11 and asurface oil-water mixed liquid 15. The surface oil-water mixed liquid 15is guided into the oil-water separation device 35 to separate thesurface oil-water mixed liquid 15 into a recycled oil 16 and a recycledwater 17 of the organic waste 10. The oil-water separation device 35includes an oil collection pipeline 36 for recycling the further ofrecycled oil 16 and a water collection pipeline 37 for recycling therecycled water 17. The recycled oil 16 can be used to manufacture acleaning soap. The water collection pipeline 37 connects to an upstreamposition of the storage tank 33 so that the recycled water 17 can becarried to the storage tank 33 for recycling.

The pretreatment apparatus 30 and pretreatment steps thereof can alsoinclude a pretreatment apparatus 30 including a storage tank 33, ashattering device 31 and a oil-water separation device 35. The storagetank 33 is placed upstream from both the shattering device 31 and theoil-water separation device 35. The organic waste 10 is guided into thestorage tank 33. The heating apparatus 34 heats the organic waste 10 inthe storage tank 33 of the pretreatment apparatus 30 to about 80° C. toseparate the organic waste 10 into water, a residue, and a surfaceoil-water mixed liquid 15. The storage tank 33 has a stirring device 39to stir the organic waste 10 sufficiently therein, and the heatingapparatus 34 helps the organic waste 10 to maintain a uniform workingtemperature. The water and the residue are further conveyed to theshattering device 31 to be shattered into a slurry 11. A diaphragmaticpump and a spiral conveying device are displaced between the storagetank 33 of the pretreatment apparatus 30 and the shattering device 31.The diaphragmatic pump conveys water to the shattering device 31. Thespiral conveying device forces the residue into the shattering device31. A rough-cut device can be disposed upstream from the storage tank 33of the pretreatment apparatus 30 to cut organic waste 10 having a largesize into small pieces.

Reference made here is to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) which show how to produce aliquid fertilized composting-free organic fertilizer product 23according to the resent invention. The system further comprises amilling device 41 and an pen spare tank 42. The milling device 41 isdisposed between the storage tank 3 of the pretreatment apparatus 30 andthe decomposition apparatus 32, and he open spare tank 42 is disposedbetween the milling device 41 and the decomposition apparatus 32. Themilling device 41 mills the slurry 11 into a fine-slurry 19 with a sizeless than 200 meshes per square inch that is further conveyed into thespare tank 42. The microbial enzymes and raw material 12 are added intothe spare tank 42 to be mixed with the fine-slurry 19 to become themixture 13. Raw material, such as carbonized crops or by-gasses, is usedto adjust a ratio between carbon and nitrogen of the fine-slurry 19 soas to maintain a suitable pH for the decomposition by the microbialenzymes. By changing the ratio of the composition of the raw material,different type of composting-free organic fertilizer product 25 can beobtained. The spare tank 42 has a diaphragmatic pump 45 to convey themixture 13 into a decomposition tank of the decomposition apparatus 32.The decomposition apparatus 32 has a feed valve and a regulating valveto avoid a positive pressure developed in the decomposition tank whenthe diaphragmatic pump 45 operates. The heating apparatus 34 as alreadyexplained carries kerosene or vapor through a check valve, a safetyvalve and a pressure gauge to an inside of a wall of the decompositionapparatus 32 to heat the mixture 13 in the decomposition tank of thedecomposition apparatus 32 with a temperature of over 100° C. Thedecomposition tank has a stirring device 44 to stir the mixture 13sufficiently at a speed of about 6-15 rpm to help the mixture 13 toreach a uniform working temperature for decomposition. The decompositiontank is an airtight, high-pressure reaction tank. The mixture 13 isdecomposed 61, which is then absorbed and purified for poisons,neutralized, and sterilized 62 in the decomposing tank. Thus the mixture13 is decomposed to become a liquid, composting-free, organic fertilizerproduct 23. A packer and a sealer are further disposed downstream fromthe decomposition apparatus 32 in sequence to pack the liquid fertilizedcomposting-free organic fertilizer product 23.

Reference is made here to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, which show how to produce asolid fertilized composting-free organic fertilizer product 24 accordingto the present invention. The system further comprises an open sparetank 42 disposed between the storage tank 33 of the pretreatmentapparatus 30 and the decomposition apparatus 32. The storage tank 33conveys the slurry 11 into the spare tank 42. The microbial enzymes andraw material 12 are added into the spare tank 42 to mix with the slurry11 and form a mixture 13. Raw material, such as carbonized crops orby-gasses, is used to adjust a ratio between carbon and nitrogen of theslurry 11 so as to maintain a suitable pH for decomposition by themicrobial enzymes. By changing the ratio of the composition of the rawmaterial, different type of composting-free organic fertilizer product25 can be obtained. The spare tank 42 has a diaphragmatic pump 45 toconvey the mixture 13 into a decomposition tank of the decompositionapparatus 32. The decomposition apparatus 32 has a feed valve and aregulating valve to avoid a positive pressure generated in thedecomposition tank when the diaphragmatic pump 45 operates. The mixture13 can also be conveyed by a compressing and vacuum self-suction system.In other words, the decomposition apparatus 32 is held in a vacuumcondition first, the spare tank 42 is sealed, and then the spare tank 42is opened to communicate with the decomposition apparatus 32, whereby,the mixture 13 is sucked into the decomposition apparatus 32automatically. The heating apparatus 34 carries kerosene or vaporthrough a check valve, a safety valve and a pressure gauge to an insideof a wall of the decomposition apparatus 32 to heat the mixture 13 inthe decomposition tank of the decomposition apparatus 32 to atemperature over 110° C., to reach a working temperature. Thedecomposition tank has a stirring device 44 therein to stir sufficientlythe mixture 13 therein at about 6-15 rpm to help the mixture 13 to reachthe uniform working temperature for decomposition. The decompositiontank is a vacuum tank. The mixture 13 is decomposed, absorbed, purifiedfor poisons, neutralized, and sterilized 62 in the decomposing tank. Thesystem further includes a compression exhaust device 46, a heatexchanger 47, a water storage device 49, and a filter device 48. Thecompression exhaust device 46 connects to the decomposition tank of thedecomposition apparatus 32. The heating apparatus 34 increases thetemperature of the mixture 13 to about 150° C. to accelerate theseparation of water in the mixture 13. The compression exhaust device 46draws out vapor 20 generated from the mixture 13 in a drying process.The heat exchanger 47 connects the compression exhaust device 46 to coolthe vapor 20 into liquid water 21, which is further guided into thewater storage device 49 connected with the heat exchanger 47. Thefiltering device 48 is connected to the water storage device 49 tofilter the liquid water 21 to make safe drinking water 22. The mixture13 is therefore decomposed and dried to into a solid, composting-free,organic fertilizer product 24. The decomposition tank can also be ageneral tank. Thus the system further including an exhaust fan device50, and the decomposition apparatus 32 does not need the regulatingvalve. The exhaust fan device 50 connects to the decomposition tank todraw directly out the vapor 20 generated from the mixture 13 in thedrying process. The mixture 13 is therefore decomposed and dried tobecome a solid fertilized composting-free organic fertilizer product 24.

As indicated above, the system for composting-free disposal of organicwaste and method for the same of the present invention has the followingadvantages:

(1) The pretreatment apparatus separates the organic waste into theslurry and the surface oil-water mixed liquid to facilitate the disposalof the organic waste; and the oil-water separation device of thepretreatment apparatus separates the oil from the water to obtain therecycled oil and the recycled water.

(2) The shattering device of the pretreatment apparatus shatters theorganic waste into slurry to minimize the organic waste and increase atotal surface area for decomposition reactions to complete the workquickly, in 3 to 24 hours.

(3) Microbial enzymes and raw material are added into the slurry to makea mixture, and the mixture is decomposed and sterilized by thedecomposition apparatus to form a recycled composting-free organicfertilizer product.

(4) The system conducts decomposition, absorption, poison removal,neutralization and nutrient adjustment simultaneously to increase theefficiency, minimize labor, reduce processing space, recycle oil, water,and residues respectively, and diminish waste water, odors and thepropagation of bacteria and diseases.

(5) By the addition of different microbial enzymes and raw material, theorganic waste becomes a unique composting-free organic fertilizerproduct, which can be used as a soil conditioner product, an animalfeed, a feed additive, an organic fertilizer, or a bacterial rawmaterial for composting, to recycle a whole resource of the organicwaste, to enhance soil quality, improve the physical and chemicalproperties of the soil, transform a void nutrient into a valid one, andpromote growth quality of crops.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the abovedescription is only illustrative of specific embodiments and examples ofthe invention. The invention should therefore cover variousmodifications and variations made to the herein-described structure andoperations of the invention, provided they fall within the scope of theinvention as defined in the following appended claims.

1. A method for composting-free disposal of organic waste, comprising:a. shattering the organic waste guided into a pretreatment apparatus tobe shattered and heated by a heating apparatus to make a slurry, whereinthe pretreatment apparatus includes a storage tank, a shattering deviceand an oil-water separation device, and the storage tank is placeddownstream from the shattering device, the oil-water separation deviceis placed downstream from the storage tank, the organic waste beingguided into the shattering device, the shattering device shattering theorganic waste to make an oil slurry to be further guided into thestorage tank, the storage tank having a stirring device therein, theheating apparatus heating the oil-slurry in the storage tank to separatethe oil-slurry into a slurry and a surface oil-water mixed liquid, theoil-water separation device including an oil collection pipeline and awater collection pipeline, and the water collection pipeline connectingto an up stream position of the storage tank; b. addition of microbialenzymes and raw material into the slurry to make a mixture; and c.decomposing and sterilizing the mixture guided into a decompositionapparatus and heated by the heating apparatus to make a composting-freeorganic fertilizer product, wherein step (c) further comprises a millingdevice and an open spare tank, the milling device is disposed betweenthe storage tank of the pretreatment apparatus and the decompositionapparatus, and the open spare tank, the milling device is disposedbetween the storage tank of the pretreatment apparatus and thedecomposition apparatus, and the open spare tank is disposed between themilling device and the decomposition apparatus, the milling device millsthe slurry into a fine-slurry, which is to be further conveyed into thespare tank to mix with the fine-slurry to make the mixture, the sparetank having a diaphragmatic pump to convey the mixture into adecomposition tank of the decomposition apparatus, the decompositiontank having a stirring device therein, the decomposition apparatushaving a feed valve and a regulating valve, the heating apparatusheating mixture in the decomposing tank with a temperature of over 100°C. to accelerate the separation of water in the mixture, thedecomposition tank being an airtight high pressure reaction tank, andthe mixture decomposes to become a liquid fertilized composting-freeorganic fertilizer product.
 2. A method for composting-free disposal oforganic waste, comprising: a. shattering the organic waste guided into apretreatment apparatus to be shattered and heated by a heating apparatusto make a slurry, wherein the pretreatment apparatus includes a storagetank, a shattering device and an oil-water separation device, and thestorage tank is placed downstream from the shattering device, theoil-water separation device is placed downstream from the storage tank,the organic waste being guided into the shattering device, theshattering device shattering the organic waste to make an oil-slurry tobe further guided into the storage tank, the storage tank having astirring device therein, the heating apparatus heating the oil-slurry inthe storage tank to separate the oil-slurry into a slurry and a surfaceoil-water mixed liquid, the oil-water separation device including an oilcollection pipeline and a water collection pipeline, and the watercollection pipeline connecting to an upstream position of the storagetank; b. addition of microbial enzymes and raw material into the slurryto make a mixture; and c. decomposing and sterilizing the mixture guidedinto a decomposition apparatus and heated by the heating apparatus tomake a composting-free organic fertilizer product, wherein step (c)further comprises an open spare tank disposed between the storage tankof the pretreatment apparatus and the decomposition apparatus, thestorage tank conveying the slurry into the spare tank, the microbialenzymes and raw material being added into the spare tank to mix with theslurry to make the mixture, the spare tank having a diaphragmatic pumpto convey the mixture into a decomposition tank of the decompositionapparatus, the decomposition tank having a stirring device therein, thedecomposition apparatus having a feed valve and a regulating valve, theheating apparatus heating the mixture in the decomposition tank with atemperature of over 100° C. to accelerate the separation of water in themixture, the decomposition tank being a vacuum tank, step (c) furtherincluding a compression exhaust device, a heat exchanger, a waterstorage device, and a filter device, the compression exhaust deviceconnecting to the decomposition tank of the decomposition apparatus todraw out vapor generated from the mixture, the heat exchanger connectingthe compression exhaust device to cool the vapor into liquid water thatis further guided into the water storage device connecting with the heatexchanger, the filter device connecting to the water storage device tofilter the liquid water to become drinking water, and the mixture beingdecomposed and dried to become a solid fertilized composting-freeorganic fertilizer product.
 3. A method for composting-free disposal oforganic waste, comprising: a. shattering the organic waste guided into apretreatment apparatus to be shattered and heated by a heating apparatusto make a slurry, wherein the pretreatment apparatus includes a storagetank, a shattering device and an oil-water separation device, and thestorage tank is placed downstream from the shattering device, theoil-water separation device is placed downstream from the storage tank,the organic waste being guided into the shattering device, theshattering device shattering the organic waste to make an oil-slurry tobe further guided into the storage tank, the storage tank having astirring device therein, the heating apparatus heating the oil-slurry inthe storage tank to separate the oil-slurry in the storage tank toseparate the oil-slurry into a slurry and a surface oil-water mixedliquid, the oil-water separation device including an oil collectionpipeline and a water collection pipeline, and the water collectionpipeline connecting to an upstream position of the storage tank; b)addition of microbial enzymes and raw material into the slurry to make amixture; and c) decomposing and sterilizing the mixture guided into adecomposition apparatus and heated by the heating apparatus to make acompositing-free organic fertilizer product, wherein step (c) furthercomprises an open spare tank disposed between the storage tank of thepretreatment apparatus and the decomposition apparatus, the storage tankconveying the slurry into the spare tank, the microbial enzymes and rawmaterial being added into the spare tank to mix with the slurry to makethe mixture, the spare tank having a diaphragmatic pump to convey themixture into a decomposition tank of the decomposition apparatus, thedecomposition tank having a stirring device therein, the heatingapparatus heating the mixture in the decomposing tank with a temperatureof over 100° C. to accelerate the separation of water in the mixture,the decomposition tank being a general tank, the system furtherincluding an exhaust fan device connecting to the decomposition tank todraw out vapor generated from the mixture, which being decomposed anddried to become a solid fertilized composting-free organic fertilizerproduct.